Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 8/11/10

The U.S. Meat Export Federation, National Beef Cattlemen’s Association and American Meat Institute applauded Mexico’s decision to eliminate anti-dumping duties against imports of U.S. beef and veal.
The Mexican government’s resolution takes effect today and eliminates the duties effective April 29, 2010. Companies that have paid duties since April 29 are entitled to a full refund, the groups said.

Mexico has imposed the duties on imports of U.S. beef for the last 10 years based on dumping allegations by Mexican livestock producers. The duties, which ranged from 3 cents per pound to 29 cents per pound, applied to about half of U.S. beef production.

“For nearly 10 years, U.S. beef producers via NCBA and USMEF have spent an enormous amount of time, money and effort to resolve this issue with Mexico,” NCBA President Steve Foglesong said in a news release. “Today’s news is a big win for all segments of the beef industry because throughout these 10 years many exporters, small and large, were locked out our top export market due to these prohibitive duties.”

Momentum
USMEF Chairman Jim Peterson said elimination of the duties will help improve performance in the Mexican market, the only major market that is trailing last year’s results. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office estimated that the duties have caused losses of $100 million to $500 million per year.

“This levels the playing field for all U.S. products entering Mexico and should certainly help us regain momentum in our No. 1 export market,” Peterson said.

“The elimination of these duties is a positive development because a cooperative trading relationship between the U.S. and Mexico is in our mutual best interests,” AMI President J. Patrick Boyle said in a news release.

The anti-dumping duties were scheduled to sunset every five years. They could have been extended with a request for review. A Mexican cattle producers’ group recently filed such a request but later withdrew it.
“In recent years, the interested parties in Mexico have concluded that the duties offer them no advantage,” USMEF Regional Director Chad Russell said.

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